The day after their arrival, the entire division gathered in the middle of the camp. The space intended for 3-3 had been left as is, a large square of untouched grass in the otherwise busy field camp that served as a constant reminder of those who hadn’t returned. Only one banner flag had made it off the battlefield, and the survivors had planted it right in the middle of the space. General Asher and Lord Theodor entered the square, the general’s bodyguards setting up a wooden box next to the flag for him to stand on so that people further back could see him.
“Today,” the general began, managing to sound subdued and have his voice carry across the field at the same time, “we mourn the loss of our comrades and brothers. When the duke called us to war, they answered, leaving their homes and families behind and taking up arms to defend what they held dear. Through hardship and combat they stood valiantly, and even when the Marradi horses bore down on them, they fought until their last breath. Now, finally, they may rest.”
“May they rest,” the crowd murmured as one.
“We will not forget these men. They shall forever be a part of us, and of the peace that we strive to build for our people. Swordbearer Tamme, ever vigilant. Swordbearer Jodd, who could have his entire banner rolling with laughter with a single word. Swordbearer Fuhor, who kept misplacing his boots…”
And so he went on, naming every single soldier and adventurer that had fallen since the division marched out from Pel Darni. Some of the anecdotes were generic, either because nobody was left who had known the fallen, or because there simply wasn’t anything special to say about them. Others were funny, eliciting chuckles from the morose crowd despite the serious occasion. When ‘Gedrin, sharpshooter beyond compare’ was named, Edwin looked over to Leodin. After his initial reaction, he had withdrawn into himself, and Bordan had told Edwin to let him be. It would take a long time for the wound to heal, and there was nothing they could do to make it better except be there for him.
After the last name was called, the camp fell silent. For a minute or so, there was only the rustling of banners in the wind as the soldiers and adventurers remembered the fallen as they had been in life, not as they had died. Finally, Lord Theodor stepped up beside General Asher and concluded the ceremony:
“As our brothers leave this world behind, may the gods be indifferent to their passing.”
“May they be indifferent,” Edwin answered along with everyone else.
“But while the war for them is over,” Asher took over after a moment, “for us it is not. As we stand here, our comrades are fighting, be it at the western cliffs, the hills surrounding Dead Man’s Saddle, or Archibald Overlook by the Rift, where even now 1st division is locked in a desperate defense. As long as Marradi aggression remains unchecked, more of our brothers will die every day, until none of us are left and the red flies above our cities. It is up to us to carry on the fight and protect our homes and families, as well as the homes and families of those who cannot do so anymore. Take this day to remember their lives in good cheer, for soon we will march again into battle. All officers and command staff to me, the rest of you: Dismissed.”
--- ----- ---
The command meeting was the largest Edwin had ever been a part of, as it wasn’t just the battalion and some cohort commanders, but everyone down to the banner officers. The logistics section was also there in force, although Edwin didn’t really know how their command structure worked, except that Lord Theodor was at the top. There was absolutely no way to fit everyone into a wagon or even a tent, so they had drawn a number of supply wagons into a circle and turned it into a semi-enclosed meeting area. After their tactics discussions during the chase, where they had usually huddled under a tree, peering at a map sketched into the dirt with a stick, this was a stark contrast. Large maps of the region were pinned to the side of one of the wagons, with Asher’s step box placed next to it so he could refer to it if he wanted.
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“While we were separated, the advance force missed the reports on the state of the war,” Asher began, “so let me get everyone up to speed first.” He raised a long stick and pointed it at the map of the Wasteland.
“In the west, 3rd and 4th division have managed to prevail against their adversaries and take a forward position. They have dug in and are repelling probing attacks while they prepare their next move, intending to slowly move closer to the Watchtowers and finally begin a siege within the next three months if all goes according to plan. 2nd division was long unable to move out due to the threat of the cavalry, but their departure to assist Lindvar division has allowed 2nd to sally out and attempt to regain some ground. We do not yet have information on the success of this undertaking.
“1st division keeps holding Archibald’s Overlook, but despite the best efforts of both their fighting force and their mages, the situation is tenuous. Weeks of bombardment have weakened or destroyed large parts of the fortifications, and repairs cannot keep up. As time goes on, they find themselves subjected to increasingly complex assaults. During the last week alone, 1st has had to repel four separate attempts to tunnel past their defensive line. Finally, our scouts report that the cavalry left our area of operations two days ago. Speaking of the cavalry, let me introduce everyone to the newest addition to our illustrious circle.”
To Edwin’s surprise, the person who climbed onto the box next to Asher was the mounted courier, still wearing unassuming traveling clothes.
“This is our new contact with the duke’s Ravens, Mountain Firetail. His presence gives us direct access to our intelligence network, which will surely be a boon going forward. Raven?”
Edwin froze. That man, a Raven? He didn’t look like a secret agent, but then that was probably the point. Unbidden, memories bubbled up from Walter’s core. Young Walter, walking in on his father and his ‘new business partners’. The man who had called himself Greeve smiling down at him even as he convinced his father to join in the scheme that would end up taking his life, leaving Walter all alone in the world.
“Thank you, General,” the chubby man said with a smile, “though Firetail is sufficient. There’s no need to stand on formalities, is there?” He chuckled, though he stopped when he realized that the crowd didn’t join him, still digesting the fact that they were in the company of a member of the most famous intelligence organization on the continent.
“As you said, the cavalry – or, as they like to call themselves ‘The Royal Order of the Knights of the Rose of Marrad’ – is moving south-west, likely riding back to Crossroads and then north to resume their attack on 2nd division. Word has already been sent, but we had been expecting them to return from the start, so General Karr won’t get caught off guard.”
“Royal Order of Knights?” Someone asked from the crowd. “What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Quite laughable, indeed,” Firetail agreed easily, “but we all know how much the Marradi love to cherry-pick history. Organizationally, it means that they’re not simply mounted soldiers, but an order of knights sworn to the crown – the Marradi crown, in this case – which means that they’re outside the command structure of the army. In reality, it’s just a fancy name to lure in noble scions with the promise of glory and status. Duke Marrad couldn’t acquire anywhere near enough horses to fill out the ranks of his secret weapon, so he needed an incentive for his nobles to give him theirs. The young generation of Marradi aristocracy was figuratively frothing at the mouth for the opportunity to become the first ‘real knights’ since before the Exile.”
Edwin scratched his chin in thought. Now that he thought about it, he vaguely remembered there being a rose stitched on the flags and barding, though whoever had had the grand idea to choose a red rose on a red background as the banner of the order deserved to be whipped.
“And now that they are gone,” General Asher jumped in, “we can move freely again. So the question is: What do we do from here?”